NFL Fever 2002

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Our updated preview includes all of the info from NFL Fever Week on Insider.

By IGN Staff

In preparing to launch the Xbox, Microsoft knows that answering the call of the next generation gamer now mandates a high-powered sports line-up of undeniable quality. So, not unlike the Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder, they have put the money in motion and are attempting to build a superior franchise overnight. During an explosive debut at Gamestock 2001, Microsoft claims that, just in time for the season, we can expect NFL Fever 2002 will deliver all the action, intensity, and big hits football fans crave, and thanks to the power of the Xbox, they will do so at a level unparalleled by any other sports developer in the business.

Unfortunately for them, they are picking a fight with two of the toughest bullies on the block. By the time this game hits the field, both Visual Concepts and EA Sports will be multiple generations ahead of the game, so in order to compete, Microsoft has enlisted the help of a core group of their PC developers who previously worked on the Fever franchise for the PC. And from the early demo we witnessed, they are on the right track. The question is, will this 3rd and long prayer put them in better field goal positioning, or will they make a big play for the touchdown?

Fever introduces the Dynamic Player Performance (DPP) system, which increases or decreases a player's attributes from game to game depending on their in-game stats and performance. So if you are playing a long game (with long quarters), players will tire and you'll have to make substitutions if you don't want them getting burned out. Keep the players fresh and they'll gradually get better as their stats and experience increases. Think of it as a mini RPG element added into a football game. Check out our in depth feature on the Dynamic Player Performance system.

The effects are awesome. The lighting in the game is really something else, giving one of the most realistic portrayals of night and day effects we have ever seen in a sports title. The player's level of facial detail simply smashes anything before it, with visible emotional reactions to plays, hits, and cheerlea...err..just kidding. These guys do avoid having cheesy "doll eyes," though, and even follow the ball as it travels through the air. Player muscles ripple with activity, and the helmets shine with real time direction-based reflection technology. Seeing is believe in our full fledged feature on the level of detail in NFL Fever 2002.

A franchise or dynasty mode is pretty much a requirement for any football game these days, and there is a very detailed one headed in Fever 2002. The Dynasty Mode allows you to take a team through a whopping twenty-five (yes, that is 25) seasons and you can even draft a team from scratch. You can draft rookies from college, sign free agents, create and trade players, and even deal with the dreaded salary cap. Then you can fulfill your dreams of playing in the Pro Bowl and then look at all of your trophies (including the Super Bowl trophy) in a cool Trophy Case feature. However, the ultimate dream of every NFL player can be fulfilled as you can have your jersey retired and then be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Wow. Our feature on The Trophy Case should clear up any additional questions you might have.

If all of that isn't enough, as part of the Dynasty Mode, you are able to move your team to any city to a new stadium complete with new uniforms. So if you are a Los Angeles football fan who is upset about not having a pro team, you can move the Raiders back or even pick your favorite team from anywhere in the country and bring them home.

Players are doing all the little things we've come to expect, such as inertia-based motion capture, standing animations, and two-player mo-capped hits, as well as some little things like tracking and shoving defensive players on kickoff to gain position. Microsoft tells us the game will offer hundreds of animations when all is said and done, and if they can keep this game at a solid 60 FPS, you can bet it will give even Madden a run for its money in the visuals department.

From what we can tell, NFL Fever will lean more towards the NFL2K series than Madden, especially in how players control. The game is extremely fast, and switching directions is fairly easy for distinct arcade feel.

Despite several aspects still being in their infancy, Fever 2002 is certainly ready for the stat-freaks, with a long list of features that are sure to please. The game will offer a Dynasty mode that will allow players to unlock hidden teams that can then be incorporated into fantasy seasons. Players will also be able to engage in a Challenge Mode where they'll be able to go head-to-head with the best Super Bowl teams in NFL history.

Unfortunately, this year's Fever will not feature online play, as the time available to complete a launch title is being spent on refining the single-player experience, so 'Net freaks might want to cancel that broadband account and invest in a more comfortable couch. Because Peyton Manning's first football videogame should keep you plenty busy this fall and winter.

If you want to get into the huddle and Under the Helmet of real NFL football, head over to NFL.com. With live chats, real-time audio and interactive polls, you can experience NFL action like never before.